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JUST SHOOT!

Let yourself be silently drawn to the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.

– Rumi

I’ve been anything but quiet about my love for photography. It’s no secret I enjoy taking photos, documenting life through a lens.

Since college I’ve dipped into graphic design, writing, video editing, and other various creative mediums. But, nothing quite compares to photography’s tug on my heart.

Recently, I decided to focus on using photography as my main form of artistic expression, and possibly only source of income in the future. I plan to invest in more equipment and training, while slowly loosening the grip I’ve kept on other aforementioned pursuits.

Instagram, a free photo-sharing program, heavily influenced my decision. With the application I’m able to make art out of what’s in front of me at any moment.

Even more addicting is seeing what everyone else is doing at the same time. While I take a photo of a temple in Korea, a friend of mine in North Dakota might share an image of her children playing, and both of us could potentially see what flavor of ice cream someone in Singapore decides to try.

Photography provides opportunities for people to remember, to relate, and to react. It seamlessly combines past, present and future in an instant. That’s powerful.

I’ve used a Nikon Digital SLR for many years, and I’ve been fortunate enough to document major life events like beauty pageants and weddings along the way. It has been a loyal companion, next to Adobe Photoshop, and I’m thankful for how technology has made it (almost) possible to capture and/or create perfection.

Following the latest trend; however, I dove back into film photography a few weeks ago. What I love about using film is the anticipation of waiting to see whether my shots turn out or not. I’ve had to relearn how to do everything; the last analog camera I used was over seven years ago.

Lomography is a global community whose strong passion is creative and experimental analogue film photography.

Shooting with a vintage Diana F+ camera has been both rewarding and challenging. I have to rely on the knowledge of composition I’ve acquired over the past several years, while at the same time, let go, close my eyes, and just snap like I’ve learned to do with Instagram.

“Don’t think – Just shoot!”

That’s what it says on the back of a roll of 120mm film. I know this because I destroyed the first roll of film I tried loading into the Diana F+ camera. Success comes from failed attempts, right? Perhaps it was meant to be. Maybe I needed a reminder to ‘just shoot’. I hope to remember this simple, short bit of advice as I allow myself to be quietly pulled closer to what I’m passionate about. Keep it mind as well, no matter what method you use to creatively document and/or express your life.

People walking around a street in Hongdae. Photo taken with 120mm film using a Diana F+ camera.

A dirty staircase and graffiti in Hongdae, Seoul. Photo taken with 120mm film using a Diana F+ camera.

Power lines in Hongdae, Seoul, Korea. March, 2012. Photo taken with 120mm film using a Diana F+ camera.

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The contents of this website are the author's ideas and personal opinions. They do not necessarily reflect any position of Greenheart Travel, XploreAsia, the South Korean government, the English Program in Korea (EPIK), the U.S. government, or the U.S. Peace Corps.